World Bank Validates Reform: Tin Can, Apapa Ports Break Into Top 20 Most Improved Ports Globally
World Bank Validates Reform: Tin Can, Apapa Ports Break Into Top 20 Most Improved Ports Globally
By Success Okezie
Nigeria’s maritime sector has just scored a major international endorsement. The World Bank has ranked both the Tin Can Island Port Complex and the Apapa Port Complex among the Top 20 Most Improved Ports worldwide in its 2025 report. This milestone reflects the sustained reform and modernization push led by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho. It confirms that Nigeria’s flagship ports are moving from chronic delays to measurable efficiency, earning the attention of global trade observers.
The Container Port Performance Index CPPI 2025, published by the World Bank in June 2026, placed Tin Can and Apapa in the “Top 20 Port Improvement” category. The index measures how long vessels spend in port from arrival to departure, a direct indicator of operational speed and predictability. Their inclusion means both ports have cut vessel turnaround time significantly under current management. For shipping lines and cargo owners, that means lower demurrage costs, faster cargo clearance, and more reliable schedules. For Nigeria, it means ports that can now compete more favorably with other hubs across Africa and beyond.
The CPPI is the gold standard for port benchmarking. It uses hard data to compare thousands of ports globally and over time, making it a trusted tool for investors, shipping companies, and policymakers. Because it focuses on vessel time in port, it exposes both strengths and weaknesses without bias. Tin Can and Apapa making this improvement list shows that reforms on the ground, from better berth management to upgraded equipment and streamlined documentation, are producing real, trackable results.
This global recognition is tied directly to Nigeria’s macroeconomic performance. Efficient ports have been a key factor in sustaining the country’s trade surplus since 2024. The National Bureau of Statistics reported a ₦7.54 trillion trade surplus in Q1 2026, and the NPA’s improved port operations provided the backbone for that achievement. When ports move cargo faster, exports leave on time, imports clear quicker, and the entire trade value chain becomes more productive. That is exactly what Tin Can and Apapa are now delivering.
Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho attributed the World Bank recognition to strong policy backing from the federal government. He highlighted the investor-friendly reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which opened the door for more private capital in port infrastructure and equipment modernization. He also praised the consistent support of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for aligning policy with NPA’s operational goals. “With the investor-friendly policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu providing the impetus for increased investment to drive our port infrastructure and equipment modernization programme, coupled with the unflinching support of the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, we have all it takes to further enhance trade facilitation, improve competitiveness and boost the national economy,” he said.
The World Bank ranking does more than celebrate past gains. It strengthens investor confidence in Nigeria’s maritime sector and positions the country as a more attractive destination for shipping lines, terminal operators, and logistics investors. It also reinforces Nigeria’s bid to remain West Africa’s dominant trade and logistics hub. With Tin Can and Apapa now listed among the world’s fastest-improving ports, the challenge is to sustain the momentum, deepen reforms, and climb even higher on the global index.
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